WHEN you have waited four seasons for a title that means so much, an extra couple of days was never going to be too big an issue for Rangers.

Mark Warburton’s side got the job done at the second attempt against Dumbarton. Rangers are Championship champions.

READ MORE: Back on top: Rangers fans soak up Ibrox atmosphere as club secures spot back in Scottish Premiership

Having seen the second tier crown snatched from their grasps in the final seconds against Raith Rovers on Saturday, the Gers had the perfect pick-me-up awaiting them at Ibrox.

But the night that could have been a 90-minute long party turned out to be a far more nervous affair. Warburton’s side set out to earn the three points that would confirm their status as champions, and that is what they got, courtesy of James Tavernier’s second half strike.

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Rangers manager Mark Warburton after the Ladbrokes Scottish Championship match at Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow. (PA)

The final whistle sparked scenes of celebration around Ibrox. The Championship silverware, sought after for so long, will be placed in the Trophy Room in the coming weeks.

READ MORE: Back on top: Rangers fans soak up Ibrox atmosphere as club secures spot back in Scottish Premiership

Rangers are back where the feel they should be, where they have strived to get to through the years of angst, of trouble off the park and more than a handful of stumbles on it.

No matter what the rest of the season holds for Warburton and his players, they have achieved what they set out to do, and had to do.

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Rangers' Andy Halliday celebrates the win. (PA)

The backing Rangers have received from the stands throughout their climb back through the leagues has been significant and impressive as the fans have stood by their club.

It is fitting, then, that three of the most important games on the road to recovery will be played in front of tens of thousands of supporters, the Light Blue legions selling out their allocations at home last night and at Hampden on upcoming successive weekends.

READ MORE: Back on top: Rangers fans soak up Ibrox atmosphere as club secures spot back in Scottish Premiership

But Warburton’s side knew they had to give the Ibrox crowd something to cheer, and send them home happy, before attentions could turn to the Petrofac Training Cup final and Old Firm clash a week on Sunday.

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Rangers' Rob Kiernan (centre) and Harry Forrester (left) celebrates after the Ladbrokes Scottish Championship match at Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow. (PA)

Ibrox was once again packed and expectant as Rangers took to the field. But there was little early on for the Gers fans to get excited about. It was tight and it was tense.

READ MORE: Back on top: Rangers fans soak up Ibrox atmosphere as club secures spot back in Scottish Premiership

There was a roar of encouragement as the action got underway but groans of frustration permeated the first half as Warburton’s side failed to find the net.

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Rangers' James Tavernier celebrates after the Ladbrokes Scottish Championship match. (PA)

It was no surprise to see Rangers dominate the possession, or see Dumbarton defend in numbers, but it made for a disappointing first half for the Light Blues.

They swarmed forward time after time but too often found the yellow wall impenetrable as Steven Aitken’s side put in an organised and dogged display on the edge of their area.

READ MORE: Back on top: Rangers fans soak up Ibrox atmosphere as club secures spot back in Scottish Premiership

It took 19 minutes for Rangers to fashion a decent chance and force keeper Jamie Ewings into a save, Harry Forrester collecting a pass from Rob Kiernan, spinning and bursting forward before unleashing a shot that was saved comfortably.

It didn’t take Rangers long to get back on the front foot and they should have opened the scoring when Forrester and Barrie McKay combined well down the left flank, but Kenny Miller couldn’t connect with a cross that evaded everyone as it flashed across the box.

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Rangers' Lee Wallace celebrates after the Ladbrokes Scottish Championship matc. (PA)

As the clock ticked on but the score board didn’t tick over, frustrations began to grow inside Ibrox. Having arrived in expectation more than hope, this wasn’t what Gers fans had in mind.

Dumbarton caused little threat at the other end of the park but they were doing enough to stifle Warburton’s side, Jon Routledge emerging from a challenge with Halliday with a booking before Tavernier saw his free-kick saved.

READ MORE: Back on top: Rangers fans soak up Ibrox atmosphere as club secures spot back in Scottish Premiership

By the time the half-time whistle was blown, Rangers really should have been ahead, but they couldn’t turn their possession into a goal.

Miller and Tavernier tried their luck after Warburton’s side worked a couple of short corners before the right-back almost caught Ewings out with a dipping free-kick from the left wing.

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Rangers' Andy Halliday (PA)

Just after Halliday’s shot from the edge of the box was saved, the first half was brought to a close without Warburton’s side registering. They now had 45 minutes to get over the line.

They didn’t have to wait long after the break to take a significant step, though. King almost broke the deadlock after McKay nodded a Forrester cross back into the area but it was Tavernier who finally found the route to goal as he converted Holt’s pass from the right.

READ MORE: Back on top: Rangers fans soak up Ibrox atmosphere as club secures spot back in Scottish Premiership

The right-back should have won the game, and made sure of the title, just minutes later but he could only direct a header from a Forrester cross into the arms of keeper Ewings.

Rangers knew the second goal would be enough to clinch the points and the Championship crown. There were appeals for a penalty when Routledge challenged King before Halliday’s drive was deflected wide.

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Rangers' Danny Wilson (centre) 

Christian Nade, a lone figure for the Sons as he was starved of service, almost caught Wes Foderingham by surprise with a sweetly struck volley. The flow of play was immediately back towards the Dumbarton goal, substitute Michael O’Halloran denied at the near post by Ewings before Tavernier tried his luck from distance.

READ MORE: Back on top: Rangers fans soak up Ibrox atmosphere as club secures spot back in Scottish Premiership

The party couldn’t quite get started as Rangers pushed and probed for a second goal, Ewings saving well from O’Halloran with just minutes remaining.

The final seconds dragged as eyes were fixed on referee Steven McLean. The final blow of his whistle was the most significant Rangers have heard for many years.

The celebrations began on the park, on the touchline and in the stands. The Journey is over.